Georgia Tech filled an opening in its future non-conference football schedules by agreeing to play the Mercer Bears in 2016, the school announced Monday.

Mercer, which resumes football competition this fall after 72 years of dormancy, will compete on the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) level. As part of the agreement, Mercer must increase its scholarship numbers by 2016 to meet the minimum standards set by the NCAA.

The addition of Mercer in 2016 is in line with Georgia Tech’s plan to schedule in-state non-conference opponents. The Yellow Jackets will host Georgia Southern in 2014 – the first ever meeting between the two teams – and Tech continues to play rival Georgia annually.

“We are pleased to add Mercer to our 2016 football schedule,” athletic director Mike Bobinski said. “This is part of an ongoing effort to support and accentuate college football in the state of Georgia. Our yearly contest with Georgia and the addition of Georgia Southern and Mercer helps us meet that objective.”

The 2016 non-conference schedule also includes two SEC opponents, Georgia (away) and Vanderbilt (home), and a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent to be determined.

Georgia Tech and Mercer have a football history, although the two teams have not met in 75 years. The Yellow Jackets and Bears last met on the gridiron in 1938. Tech is 10-0-1 all-time against Mercer.

The first football game in Georgia Tech history came vs. Mercer, on Nov. 5, 1892.